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!